He stooped...we laughed

“Busy are the wise men of this world at this very time all over the world, busy in gathering thorns and twisting them, that they may afflict the Lord’s Anointed.  Some of them cry, “Yes, he was a good man, but not the Son of God” others even deny His superlative excellence in life and teaching; they cavil at His perfection, and imagine flaws where none exist.  Never are they happier than when impugning His character.  Full often have they torn their own hands in in weaving crowns of thorn for Him.”


“Let us remember that our Lord’s weakness was undertaken for the sake of His people; for us He became a lamb, for us He laid aside His glory, and therefore it is the more painful for us to see that this voluntary humiliation of Himself must be made the object of so much derision and scorn, though worthy of the utmost praise.  He stoops to save us, and we laugh at Him as He stoops; He leaves the throne that He may lift us up to it, but while He is graciously descending, the hoarse laughter of an ungodly world is His only reward.  Ah me! Was ever love treated after so unlovely a sort?  Surely the cruelty it received was proportioned to the honor it deserved, so perverse are the sons of men.” 


CH Spurgeon - “Crown of Thorns” 12 Sermons on the Passion and Death of Christ